Bombing suspect may plead guilty

Accused of targeting Clinton, Obama and other Democrats

By Benjamin Weiser, The New York Times

Published
10:28 pm EDT, Friday, March 15, 2019

A photo provided by the Broward County Sheriff's Office of Cesar Sayoc Jr., the man suspected of mailing a dozen parcel bombs to critics of President Donald Trump in 2018. Sayoc, a Trump supporter who prosecutors say mailed pipe bombs to prominent Democrats, has decided to enter a guilty plea, according to a court docket. (Broward County Sheriff's Office via The New York Times) -- FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY -- less

A photo provided by the Broward County Sheriff's Office of Cesar Sayoc Jr., the man suspected of mailing a dozen parcel bombs to critics of President Donald Trump in 2018. Sayoc, a Trump supporter who ... more

Photo: BROWARD COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE

Photo: BROWARD COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE

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A photo provided by the Broward County Sheriff's Office of Cesar Sayoc Jr., the man suspected of mailing a dozen parcel bombs to critics of President Donald Trump in 2018. Sayoc, a Trump supporter who prosecutors say mailed pipe bombs to prominent Democrats, has decided to enter a guilty plea, according to a court docket. (Broward County Sheriff's Office via The New York Times) -- FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY -- less

A photo provided by the Broward County Sheriff's Office of Cesar Sayoc Jr., the man suspected of mailing a dozen parcel bombs to critics of President Donald Trump in 2018. Sayoc, a Trump supporter who ... more

Photo: BROWARD COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE

Bombing suspect may plead guilty

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New York

The man accused of mailing pipe bombs to critics of President Donald Trump is expected to plead guilty next week in federal court in Manhattan, the court's docket shows.

The defendant, Cesar A. Sayoc Jr., a fervent Trump supporter, sent homemade bombs created with PVC pipe and glass shards to prominent Democrats, including Hillary Clinton and former President Barack Obama, as well as to CNN and actor Robert DeNiro, authorities said.

The court's docket entry states only that there is a plea scheduled for Thursday, but it does not indicate what charges Sayoc will plead guilty to. He was indicted in November on 30 federal charges, including using a weapon of mass destruction and interstate transportation of an explosive.

Ten of the counts carry a maximum sentence of life in prison, and under federal law, if he were convicted of a certain combination of those counts, the judge would be required to give him a life sentence. A possible plea deal might center on whether Sayoc could plead guilty to counts that leave the judge the discretion to sentence him to less time.

Sayoc's federal public defenders and the U.S. attorney's office for the Southern District of New York declined to comment on his expected plea Friday.